VCM vs. IWU

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music and Indiana Wesleyan University Marion? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Indiana Wesleyan University Marion

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • IWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • IWU 2,204
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • IWU #239
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • IWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • IWU $32,352
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • IWU $32,352
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • IWU $10,868
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • IWU $23,402
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • IWU $21,405
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • IWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • IWU 3,761
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • IWU 3,345
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • IWU 88.9%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • IWU 17%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • IWU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • IWU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • IWU 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • IWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • IWU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • IWU
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • IWU 19/28
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • IWU 960/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • IWU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • IWU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • IWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • IWU 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • IWU $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • IWU 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • IWU $24,104
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • IWU $249

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • IWU 40%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • IWU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • IWU Low
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • IWU No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • IWU 73%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • IWU 1%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • IWU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • IWU 2%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • IWU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • IWU 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • IWU 32%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • VCM Yes
  • IWU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • VCM No
  • IWU No
  • Meal Plan
  • VCM Yes
  • IWU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • VCM No
  • IWU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • VCM No
  • IWU No

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL with Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is larger than VCM based on total student enrollment (2,204 students vs. 323 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1.

VCM vs. IWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or IWU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than IWU ($21,306 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion are 22.4% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($10,868 vs. $14,008).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than VCM (about $1,442 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at IWU than at VanderCook College of Music (about $1,442 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students ($23,317 vs. $21,405).

VCM vs. IWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM or IWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between IWU and VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion (1070) is 40 points higher than at VCM (1030).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; IWU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than IWU (88.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 17% at IWU.

VCM vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM and IWU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than VanderCook College of Music's (45%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana Wesleyan University Marion graduates have a $2,896 lower median loan debt than VCM graduates ($24,104 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IWU graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCM graduates ($249 vs. $279).
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.